Poppy Ball supports RSA and Red Cross

The Poppy Ball raised $10,000 for RSA Poppy Appeal and Red Cross. Photo/Bevan Conley

Whanganui's RSA Poppy Fund and Red Cross are each $5000 better off thanks to the Poppy Ball in April.

The charity ball organising committee, all volunteers who spent hours putting together the event, met with Wanganui RSA president Graeme Paul and Red Cross Wanganui branch president Colin Toy yesterday to present them with the funds.

Mr Paul said the $5000 would make a big difference and would go into the RSA's Poppy Fund.

"The Poppy Fund helps lots of people in the RSA with all sorts of things.

"For example, it can help with buying mobility scooters. Anyone in the RSA, not just veterans, is entitled to a mobility scooter."

Mr Toy said the Red Cross would put the funds into its community programmes.

"We do quite a lot of youth programmes.

"We're involved with the Rise Up camp that is run out of Palmerston North where children aged 8 to 12 who just need a bit of extra help go for a week of camping. We do first aid training in schools and also pay for a first aid instructor for new parents and caregivers which is a two-hour course booked through Plunket.

"We also contribute to former refugees who arrive in Palmerston North. We provide some of their requirements for setting up a house. We buy the items locally and transport them to Palmerston North."

The Poppy Ball is held at the War Memorial Centre, building on the long history the centre, RSA and Red Cross have of working together. This year's ball was the third Poppy Ball and it has grown each time, with 400 people attending this year's event. Plans are already under way for the 2018 ball which will be held in April close to Anzac Day.